German word

heikel

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈhaɪ̯kl̩/

Meaning

  • adjectivetricky

Example

Er hat ein heikles Problem.

He has a tricky problem.

Illustration for heikel (tricky)

More examples

Im Meeting wurde ein heikles Thema angesprochen.

A tricky topic was brought up in the meeting.

Core concept

A fragile situation where one wrong move can trigger trouble.

Common phrases

  • ein heikles Thema

    a tricky topic

  • eine heikle Entscheidung

    a tricky decision

  • eine heikle Frage

    a delicate question

Similar words

problematisch: Likely to create problems or difficulties and requiring careful handling.
schwierig: Not easy to solve or deal with and requiring considerable time or effort.
delikat: Requiring tact and sensitivity because a mistake could cause awkwardness.
prekär: Unstable and likely to lead to serious problems if left unattended.

Definition in German

bezeichnet eine Situation oder Angelegenheit, die sensibel oder schwierig zu handhaben ist und deshalb leicht zu Konflikten oder Problemen führen kann.

Word origin

German heikel comes through Low German and Dutch usage and denotes something difficult or delicate to handle.

Usage tips

  • Heikel often describes a sensitive issue with a risk of conflict, while schwierig is the broader word for difficulty.

Other meanings

  • delicateadjective

Opposites

  • unkompliziertuncomplicatedadjective
  • einfachsimpleadjective

Word lists with this word